EFCAhttps://www.efca.europa.eu/en/rss.xml
enFisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) Extension of deadline for supply contracthttps://www.efca.europa.eu/en/content/pressroom/fisheries-committee-west-central-gulf-guinea-fcwc-extension-deadline-supply
The&nbsp;Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC)&nbsp;intends to award a supply contract of Equipment for a Regional Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Centre (RC MCS) incorporating the pooled data of the FCWC Member States (Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo), Third Countries and other parties, from their Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), Automatic Identification Service (AIS) and other sources such as Vessel Traffic Systems (VTS), Earth Satellite Observation (EO) etc.&nbsp;The system will be provided at the FCWC Headquarters in Tema, Ghana, with financial assistance from the Project titled “Improved Regional Fisheries Governance in Western Africa (PESCAO)’’, under the 11th&nbsp;European Development Fund (EDF). The tender dossier is still available from the following Internet address:https://www.fcwc-fish.org/activities/projects/pescao/pescao-news/1902-extension-of-submission-deadline-for-supply-contract.html on the FCWC’s website&nbsp;www.fcwc-fish.org .The deadline for submission of tenders was&nbsp;15th&nbsp;April 2019, at 11:00 am&nbsp;(Ghana Time), however, due to the veracity of the clarifications being sought by potential bidders, PESCAO has decided to extend the closing date by 3 weeks.The closing date for the submission of the tender will now be 6th&nbsp;May 2019, at 11:00 am (Ghana Time).18/03/2019744Joint fisheries surveillance operation organised in West Africa in the framework of the EU project PESCAOhttps://www.efca.europa.eu/en/content/pressroom/joint-fisheries-surveillance-operation-organised-west-africa-framework-eu-project
In the framework of the EU cooperation PESCAO project, a joint fisheries surveillance operation to detect illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing was just undertaken, the operation Alexandre Baptista.&nbsp; Under the coordination of the Subregional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) and with the technical and human support from EFCA, the joint operation brokered cooperation between Mauritania, Cabo Verde and Senegal. With the Coordination Centre in Senegal, representatives from all participating countries collected and exchanged fisheries information data.The five-year EU funded PESCAO project, includes a component aiming to improve the fight against Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing activities in Western Africa, contributing to sustainable fisheries management and the reduction of food insecurity in the region.As part of this project, the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) provides technical assistance to the SRFC and their member countries in order to improve regional cooperation in the fight against IUU fishing. The EFCA supported the operation through the deployment of one EFCA official in the Coordination Centre. The deployment of an expert from EFCA in one of the fishing patrol vessels also allowed sharing best practices and experiences.During this operation, participating countries have shared information from the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and other fisheries data to get a full picture of the area of operations. With this broader surveillance picture, the fishing patrol vessels were sent to where illegal activities were suspected. There were 36 inspections at sea that resulted in the detection of a number of potential non-compliances including non-conform documentation and the use of illegal gear. The cases and investigations will be followed up by the competent national authorities.[[{"fid":"2204","view_mode":"teaser","fields":{"format":"teaser","alignment":"left","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"teaser","alignment":"left","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-teaser media-wysiwyg-align-left","data-delta":"2"}}]]11/02/2019741Call for Technical Assistance to ECOWAS for PESCAOhttps://www.efca.europa.eu/en/content/pressroom/call-technical-assistance-ecowas-pescao
Technical Assistance to ECOWAS for Improved Regional Fisheries Governance in Western Africa Programme (PESCAO, Component 1).Senior STE Analysis of the National PolicySenior Short term mission Regional fishery Policy&nbsp;22/01/2019738EFCA adopts a Code of Conduct for all persons participating in EFCA activitieshttps://www.efca.europa.eu/en/content/pressroom/efca-adopts-code-conduct-all-persons-participating-efca-activities
As part of EFCA´s commitment to Fundamental Rights, EFCA adopted a Code of Conduct for all persons participating in EFCA activities.This document will provide a useful set of standards to all those working in FisheriesControl and other missions falling under the EUCoastGuard functions. Indeed, EFCA joint deployment plans, other operational plans, missions falling under European Coast Guard function and activities at sea and ashore represent the European Union, its professionalism and values including the rule of law and full respect of fundamental rights.You may check the Code at the Fundamental Rights section of our website.&nbsp;22/11/2018732EFCA trains officials from the West of Africahttps://www.efca.europa.eu/en/content/pressroom/efca-trains-officials-west-africa
Officials from West Africa have been trained by EFCA in Vigo on Control and Inspection, in the framework of the cooperation project PESCAO this week. The officials came from Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Mauritania, Ghana, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Benin and Nigeria and were selected in cooperation with our two partner organisations, the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) and the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC).The five-year EU funded PESCAO project, includes a component aiming to improve the fight against Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing activities in Western Africa, contributing to sustainable fisheries management and the reduction of food insecurity in the region.During the training, the participants had a good overview of the methodologies for inspection and could have a hands-on training in the Port of Vigo and A Pobra do Caramiñal in cooperation with Spanish fisheries control authorities.[[{"fid":"1962","view_mode":"teaser","fields":{"format":"teaser","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false},"3":{"format":"teaser","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-teaser","data-delta":"3"}}]]&nbsp;&nbsp;26/10/2018723Joint fisheries control campaign in Western Watershttps://www.efca.europa.eu/en/content/pressroom/joint-fisheries-control-campaign-western-waters
The offshore patrol vessel chartered by the European Fisheries Control Agency, the Lundy Sentinel, will carry out a patrol in European Western Waters in cooperation with the Irish fisheries control authority, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority.This operation takes place in the framework of the Joint Deployment Plan (JDP) for Western Waters. The Joint Deployment Plan is the legal and operational vehicle the EFCA uses for pooling fisheries control means of the Member States at sea, in the air and ashore based on a regional risk analysis developed by the Member States and EFCA.The JDP establishes the information to be shared, the communication details and common rules to ensure a cooperative deployment of the control means in the area. Through this work method, EFCA ensures that inspections are carried out in a harmonised way throughout the European Union and that there is a level playing field for all operators.<!-- scald=1310:sdl_editor_representation --><div class='image'><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.efca.europa.eu/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/Bridge.jpg" width="547" height="232" alt="Bridge.jpg" title="Bridge.jpg" /></div><!-- END scald=1310 -->&nbsp;&nbsp;16/10/2018710EFCA adopts its Programming Document for 2019 keeping up with its current commitments and prioritieshttps://www.efca.europa.eu/en/content/pressroom/efca-adopts-its-programming-document-2019-keeping-its-current-commitments-and
The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) has adopted its Programming Document for 2019 in its Administrative Board meeting of 10 October 2018, the day after the celebration of its 10th year anniversary in Spain (Vigo). The Programming Document confirms that the core mission of the Agency will continue to be enshrined in the operational coordination of Member States' control and inspection activities.The implementation of joint deployment plans (JDP) that will shortly cover most EU regulated species in the European Union will remain the core task of the agency and will encompass the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Western Waters, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. The agency will also coordinate the JDPs implementing the Union obligation in the NAFO and NEAFC areas.Moreover, the enforcement of the landing obligation will still be a priority for EFCA as it will keep its commitment and support to the Member States including the assistance to the Regional Control Expert Groups. Further support will be provided through the Capacity Building activities such as training, the harmonisation of inspection procedures, risk management, compliance evaluation and other specific projects.EFCA will maintain its contribution to the assistance to the Union in the international arena. The contribution of the agency to the cooperation project – PESCAO – will be the main capacity-building instrument for fighting illegal fishing in West Africa.The EFCA will also maintain its efforts for implementing the commitments made by the European Union the ministerial declarations Medfish4ever and Blacksea4ever in the Mediterranean and Black Sea respectively both in the context of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).Finally, the delivery of EFCA's tasks in the framework of the Coast Guard function, including fostering collaboration with both FRONTEX and EMSA, will remain high on the Agency's agenda with the cooperation in the agreed main five areas: sharing information, surveillance services, capacity building, risk analysis and capacity sharing. Next year, a practical Handbook on European cooperation on coast guard functions will be drafted."The approved document depicts how EFCA´s operational activities contribute to a European wide level playing field and its significant contribution towards sustainable fisheries by enhancing compliance with existing conservation and management measures," said Pascal Savouret, EFCA Executive Director.11/10/2018707EFCA celebrates its 10th anniversary in Spainhttps://www.efca.europa.eu/en/content/pressroom/efca-celebrates-its-10th-anniversary-spain
The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) celebrates this week its first decade in Spain in the city of Vigo on 9 October 2018. The EFCA moved its headquarters from Brussels to Spain (Vigo), in July 2008 in accordance with its founding regulation.EFCA´s primary role is to organise coordination and cooperation between national control and inspection activities so that the rules of the CFP are respected and applied effectively. European Union governments agreed to establish the agency in the 2002 reform as part of the drive to instill a culture of compliance within the fisheries sector across Europe. In April 2005, the Council adopted the founding legislation with Council Regulation (EC) No 768/2005. After its amendment in 2016, the Agency, in cooperation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the European Maritime Safety Agency, each within its mandate, supports the national authorities carrying out coast guard functions.During this very intense decade, the Agency has proven its European added value and fulfilled the objectives that have guided its work. The added value of the work of the agency lies in its contribution to a European-wide level playing field for the fishing industry so that European obligations are observed by everyone and everyone in the sector is treated equally, wherever they might be operating.Moreover, it contributes towards sustainable fisheries by enhancing compliance with existing conservation and management measures to the benefit of present and future generations.What have been EFCA main milestones during these years?In ten years, EFCA joint deployment plans (JDPs), the legal and operational vehicle through with EFCA organises operational coordination, increased their coverage. In 2019, the JDP may encompass nearly all the regulated EU species, widely covering now commercial species of both demersal and pelagic fisheries in EU and international waters.EFCA has been a service provider to Member States supporting them through training programmes and risk management, pooling assets and intelligence, leading to strategic planning of the control campaigns and ensuring the cost-efficiency in the deployment of means and the control effort.EFCA is a recognised honest broker that can steer discussions and provide a platform for exchange for technical solutions in this ever-evolving landscape of fisheries control.The success of EFCA´s operational cooperation model, sharing assets and intelligence and with mixed teams of inspectors extended to multipurpose operations in cooperation with Frontex and EMSA in support of national authorities carrying out coast guard functions.Developing risk management processes, compliance monitoring, harmonised inspection procedures, assisting the dialogue with the industry, exploring the feasibility of Remote Electronic Monitoring, and operational concept, as the specific actions have been the building blocks of EFCA support of the Member States and the Commission in the implementation of the landing obligation.&nbsp;&nbsp;EFCA has supported the European Commission in its international dimension and especially in its fight against illegal unregulated and undeclared fishing (IUU). The cooperation model that EFCA has initiated for the European Union inspired the European Programme PESCAO in West Africa with a view to reinforce fisheries management and reduce food insecurity in the region with EFCA yielding capacity building and training.A recent pilot project in the Strait of Sicily demonstrated that enhanced cooperation among the Mediterranean actors was achievable that paved the way for the establishment of an international control scheme concretising the political commitments made at the MedFish4ever declaration. A second pilot project has been carried out now in the Black SeaEFCA has provided tangible tools such as the production of manuals (core curriculum) and training programmes that have been crucial for the harmonisation of fisheries control measures, the creation of a level playing field and an increased transparency among the Member StatesWith 68 staff members and their families living in Vigo, EFCA has taken roots in the country and city that hosts it. Every week there are several trainings and workshops organised in EFCA that bring to Vigo experts and officials from all over Europe and third countries. EFCA also takes part in city initiatives that reach out to citizens such as sponsoring a street art mural or organising workshops on ocean sustainability for children at Vigo Sea Fest.[[{"fid":"1917","view_mode":"teaser","fields":{"format":"teaser","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"6":{"format":"teaser","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-teaser","data-delta":"6"}}]][[{"fid":"1921","view_mode":"teaser","fields":{"format":"teaser","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"10":{"format":"teaser","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-teaser","data-delta":"10"}}]]&nbsp;10/10/2018705The EFCA stands in solidarity with Greecehttps://www.efca.europa.eu/en/content/pressroom/efca-stands-solidarity-greece
The EFCA stands in solidarity with all those who are suffering from the deadly forest fires that happened today in Greece.Our sincere condolences go to the families and friends of the victims of this tragedy and to the Greek people._Letter by President Juncker to Prime Minister TsiprasStatement by Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides24/07/2018700Participation of the Agency in Vigo SeaFest festival 2018https://www.efca.europa.eu/en/content/pressroom/participation-agency-vigo-seafest-festival-2018
This year, marking the first decade of EFCA in Vigo, the Agency was the sponsor of several workshops for children in the local summer festival Vigo SeaFest.The aim was to contribute to raising awareness on sustainability among the future generations,&nbsp;so that they get to know the marine ecosystems and&nbsp;the need to protect our natural resources from a very early age.<!-- scald=1234:sdl_editor_representation --><div class='image'><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.efca.europa.eu/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/2.PNG" width="524" height="418" alt="2.PNG" title="2.PNG" /></div><!-- END scald=1234 -->&nbsp;09/07/2018690